THE SKINNY: Mendoza scored seven goals in two wins for the Spartans, including four goals in a 6-1 win over El Cerrito and a hat trick in a 3-0 victory over Encinal.

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Government

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Ronaldo

FAVORITE FOOD: Pizza

FAVORITE BAND: Linkin Park

FAVORITE MOVIE: “American Pie”

Female

NAME: Rachel Armstrong

SCHOOL: El Cerrito

SPORT: Soccer

POSITION: Forward

YEAR: Junior

THE SKINNY: Armstrong had three goals and an assist to help the Gauchos stay unbeaten with a 5-0 win over Hercules. In a scoreless tie against Pinole Valley, she had four shots on goal.

FAVORITE SUBJECT: Physics

FAVORITE ATHLETE: Baron Davis

FAVORITE FOOD: Pepperoni pizza

FAVORITE MUSIC ARTIST: Lil Wayne

FAVORITE MOVIE: “Freedom Writers”

The athlete of the week is selected by the Times staff from high school and junior college nominees throughout the circulation areas of the West County Times. To nominate an athlete, a coach should call 510-262-2738 or 925-943-8247 no later than 6 p.m. Monday. An athlete may win the award just once during the school year.

The California Highway Patrol has released a video of one of its helicopter crews performing a dramatic rescue of two British hikers who were stranded on the edge of a massive granite cliff overlooking Yosemite Valley as a major snow storm was nearing.The video, posted to Facebook by the CHP’s Central Division Air Operations, shows a helicopter crew that took...

A researcher at a university in the U.K. who came up with a mathematical equation declaring the third Monday in January as "the most depressing day of the year." A mental health advocate has debunked that theory.